Here are some terms used in scuba diving:

_Air: a gas mixture containing 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other gases (mainly argon); compressed air is used for recreational scuba diving.

_Buoyancy compensator: An inflatable vest worn by the diver that can be automatically or orally inflated to help control the diver’s ability to float or sink; usually referred to as a BC.

_C-Card: A diver’s certification card for a specific level of achievement.

_Dry suit: A water-tight garment that keeps the diver’s body warm by providing insulation with a layer of gas, such as air; for diving in waters that are too cold for comfortable wetsuit protection, usually below 65F.

_Equalization: The act of forcing air into an open space to offset increasing water pressure.

_Mask squeeze: Occurs in rapid descents where the diver neglects to equalize his/her mask. The increasing pressure causes tissues around the eyes to swell.

_Nitrox: Any mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that contains less than the 79% nitrogen found in ordinary air.

_Recreational scuba diving: Diving to prescribed limits, including a depth no greater than 130 feet, using only compressed air, and never requiring a decompression stop.

_Residual nitrogen time: The time it would take to vent any extra nitrogen remaining after a dive. Residual nitrogen time is always taken into consideration when determining the safe duration for any repetitive dive.

_SCUBA: An acronym meaning Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

_Thermocline: Intersection between two layers of water that are distinctly different temperatures, usually the colder layer is deeper.

_Wet suit: Any suit that provides thermal protection underwater by trapping a layer of water between the diver’s skin and the suit.

Source

Scuba Diving MagazIne - The magazine divers trust! Featuring in-depth scuba equipment comparative reviews, dive travel destination reports and feature articles on diving environment, aquatic life, diver nutrition and health.

The magazine serves as a ‘Consumer Reports’ for divers. Their gear recommendations are top notch; but more importantly they stress good technique and training. Their “Lessons for Life” column, where they detail the anatomy of a diving accident, is very useful in keeping divers focused on the fact that although diving is a heck of a lot of fun, it also carries with it some substantial, but mostly preventable, risks.

If you dive at all, you need to be reading this magazine. … However, like EVERY dive publication, I wonder if they can’t keep from raving about any dive destination enough. It makes me wonder if the dive destination (especially the Cayman Islands!!!) isn’t paying the reporters’ way. Trust them for gear, technique, and lifesaving tips. Verify the vacations.

You’ve always wanted to take the scuba diving plunge, your friends are always talking about it and your best mate keeps raving about his amazing dive trip to the Sipadan. Get started then! We’ll show you how.

The skill of being able to dive, survive and actually enjoy the underwater experience can be a life-long learning curve. It can also be incredibly rewarding!

To enjoy your diving experiences and make sure you remain safe, it is strongly recommended you complete a certified diving course. These courses are designed to teach you to survive while breathing underwater, understand and know how to use your dive equipment and protect and respect the marine environment.

The general pecking order of dive training gets going with the 4-5 day Open-water course; Specialties, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Dive Master, Assistant Instructor, Dive Instructor and Master Scuba Trainer courses follow this.

Dive training is organised by a number of international certification agencies, the following are some of the most prominent associations: the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), the Confederation Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques (CMAS), the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Scuba Schools International (SSI) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).

These dive courses not only provide you with the skills to survive underwater, but you are also awarded with a certification or C-Card. The C-Card is important proof of your qualification and reputable diving centres will need to sight this before signing you up on their dive trips.

PADI Dive Courses

PADI Stands for The Professional Association of Diving Instructors. The Association runs a range of courses that are recognised world wide. These range from the basic introduction for beginners (bubble maker) to the most advanced (open water scuba instructor). Find them here at www.padi.com

Diving: relaxing, action-packed, tranquil, adrenaline pumping, adventurous–diving is all this and more–the choice is yours.